2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season
| 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and knockout | ||
| Matches played | 13 | ||
| Official website | Super Rugby Aupiki | ||
| |||
The 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season is the fourth and current season of the top-flight New Zealand women's rugby union competition, Super Rugby. The season fixtures were released on 20 November 2024, consisting of six rounds and a Grand Final to decide the season champions.
It was revealed during the season draw that the Super Rugby Aupiki champions would play the champions of the Australian Super Rugby competition, Super Rugby W, at the end of the season. This new competition, which is formatted similarly to a super cup, is called the Super Rugby Champions Final.[1][2][3] It will be the first edition of the new competition.
The defending champions are the Blues, who defeated two-time runners-up Chiefs Manawa 24–18 in last seasons (2024) Grand Final.[4][5]
Teams
[edit]
Team base of the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki teams
Stadia and locations
[edit]| Union | Team | Location(s) | Stadia | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Blues | Kingsland, Auckland Region | Eden Park | 50,000 |
| Whangārei, Northland Region | Okara Park | 30,000 | ||
| Waikato | Chiefs Manawa | Hamilton, Waikato Region | Waikato Stadium | 25,800 |
| Wellington | Hurricanes Poua | Pipitea, Wellington Region | Wellington Regional Stadium | 34,500 |
| Upper Hutt, Wellington Region | NZCIS | — | ||
| Canterbury | Matatū | Addington, Canterbury Region | Rugby League Park | 17,104 |
| Nelson, Tasman District | Trafalgar Park, Nelson | 18,000 | ||
| Aidanfield, Canterbury Region | Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub | 1,000 |
Personnel
[edit]Ladder
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blues | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 60 | +78 | 3 | 0 | 19 | Advance to Grand Final |
| 2 | Matatū | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 110 | 84 | +26 | 2 | 0 | 14 | |
| 3 | Chiefs Manawa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 114 | 98 | +16 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| 4 | Hurricanes Poua | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 48 | 168 | −120 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Super Rugby Aupiki
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Difference between points for and against; 4) Total number of points for.
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Difference between points for and against; 4) Total number of points for.
Matches
[edit]Round 1
[edit]| 1 March 14:05 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Chiefs Manawa | 25–31 | Matatū |
| Try: Ruby Tui (2) Reese Anderson Kennedy Tukuafu Con: Renee Holmes Pen: Renee Holmes | Try: Laura Bayfield Winnie Palamo Amy du Plessis (2) Con: Hannah King (4) Pen: Hannah King |
| Waikato Stadium[12] Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr |
| 1 March 16:35 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Hurricanes Poua | 10–50 | Blues |
| Try: Isabella Waterman Denise Aoilupotea | Try: Ruahei Demant (2) Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Braxton Sorensen-McGee Grace Gago (2) Sylvia Brunt Con: Krysten Cottrell (3) Ruahei Demant (3) Pen: Krysten Cottrell |
| Wellington Regional Stadium[12] Referee: Ben Woolerton |
Round 2
[edit]| 7 March 17:05 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Blues | 24–22 | Chiefs Manawa |
| Try: Ruahei Demant Katelyn Vaha'akolo Jaymie Kolose Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Con: Ruahei Demant (2) | Try: Vici-Rose Green Grace Houpapa-Barrett Renee Holmes Con: Renee Holmes Kelly Brazier Pen: Renee Holmes |
| Eden Park[12] Referee: Todd Petrie |
| 9 March 12:35 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Matatū | 29–7 | Hurricanes Poua |
| Try: Grace Brooker Kaea Nepia (2) Winnie Palamo Lucy Jenkins Con: Hannah King (2) | Try: Ayesha Leti-I'iga Con: Cassie Siataga |
| Rugby League Park[12] Referee: Warwick Lahmert |
Round 3
[edit]| 15 March 14:05 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Matatū | 7–28 | Blues |
| Try: Hannah King Con: Hannah King | Try: Sylvia Brunt (2) Braxton Sorensen-McGee Atlanta Lolohea Con: Ruahei Demant (2/2) Tara Turner Krysten Cottrell |
| Trafalgar Park[12] Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr |
| 15 March 16:35 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Chiefs Manawa | 46–7 | Hurricanes Poua |
| Try: Ruby Tui (2) Azalleyah Ma′aka Jade Coates Luka Connor Renee Holmes Vici-Rose Green Tenika Willison Con: Renee Holmes (3/8) | Try: Cassie Siataga Con: Cassie Siataga |
| Waikato Stadium[12] Referee: Ben Woolerton |
Round 4
[edit]| 22 March 14:05 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| NZCIS[12] Referee: Warwick Lahmert |
| 22 March 16:35 NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Chiefs Manawa | 21–36 | Blues |
| Try: Kelly Brazier Kate Henwood Ariana Bayler Con: Kelly Brazier (3/3) | Try: Jaymie Kolose Liana Mikaele-Tu'u Krysten Cottrell Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Braxton Sorensen-McGee Sylvia Brunt Con: Krysten Cottrell (3/6) |
| Waikato Stadium[12] Referee: Todd Petrie |
Round 5
[edit]Round 6
[edit]Grand Final
[edit]Statistics
[edit]- As of 22nd March 2025
Leading point scorers
[edit]| No. | Player | Team | Points | Average | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hannah King |
Matatū |
30 | 7.50 | 1 T, 11 C, 1 P, 0 D |
| 2 | Ruahei Demant |
Blues |
29 | 7.25 | 3 T, 7 C, 0 P, 0 D |
| 3 | Renee Holmes |
Chiefs |
26 | 6.50 | 2 T, 5 C, 2 P, 0 D |
| 4 | Sylvia Brunt |
Blues |
25 | 6.25 | 5 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D |
| 5 | Krysten Cottrell |
Blues |
22 | 5.50 | 1 T, 7 C, 1 P, 0 D |
Leading try scorers
[edit]| No. | Player | Team | Tries | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sylvia Brunt |
Blues |
5 | 1.25 |
| 3 | Ruby Tui |
Chiefs |
4 | 1.0 |
| 2 | Braxton Sorensen-McGee |
Blues |
4 | 1.0 |
| 4 | Winnie Palamo |
Matatū |
3 | 1.0 |
| 5 | Ruahei Demant |
Blues |
3 | 0.75 |
Players
[edit]Squads
[edit]The following squads were named for the 2025 season.[13][14]
| Forwards | Mia Anderson • Rebecca Burch • Jade Coates • Luka Connor • Veisinia Fakalelu • Vici-Rose Green • Logan Hauraki • Kate Henwood • Chyna Hohepa • Grace Houpapa-Barrett • Tanya Kalounivale • Grace Kukutai • Martha Mataele • Krystal Murray • Charmaine Smith • Santo Taumata • Kennedy Tukuafu |
| Backs | Reese Anderson • Ariana Bayler • Kelly Brazier • Renee Holmes • Rosie Kelly • Azalleyah Ma′aka • Kiriana Nolan • Holli O'Sullivan • Mererangi Paul • Shoshanah Seumanutafa • Hazel Tubic • Ruby Tui • Tenika Willison |
| Coach | Dwayne Sweeney |
| Forwards | Denise Aiolupotea • Forne Burkin • Natalie Delamere • Lavinia Lea • Olioli Mua • Angel Mulu • Joanah Ngan-Woo • Jayme Nuku • Jackie Patea-Fereti • Elinor Plum-King • Nina Poletti • Layla Sae • Ngano Taveke • Samantha Taylor • Kahurangi Sturmey • Esther Faiaoga-Tilo |
| Backs | Shakira Baker • Raedeen Blake • Teilah Ferguson • Te Rauoriwa Gapper • Leilani Hakiwai • Iritana Hohaia • Harmony Kautai • Ayesha Leti-I'iga • Paige Lush • Cassie Siataga • Rangimarie Sturmey • Monica Tagoai • Payton Takimoana • Isabella Waterman |
| Coach | Fusi Feaunati |
| Forwards | Laura Bayfield • Alana Bremner (c) • Chelsea Bremner • Grace Brooker • Emma Dermody • Eilis Doyle • Jett Hayward • Tegan Hollows • Lucy Jenkins • Sarah Jones • Pip Love • Kaipo Olsen-Baker • Mo'omo'oga Ashley Palu • Marcelle Parkes • Georgia Ponsonby • Amy Rule • Fiaali'i Solomona |
| Backs | Amy du Plessis • Maia Joseph • Hannah King • Fia Laikong • Kelsyn McCook • Hollyrae Mete • Kaea Nepia • Winnie Palamo • Abigail Paton • Chey Robins-Reti • Keighley Simpson • Tayla Simpson • Charlotte Va'afusaga |
| Coach | Whitney Hansen |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Williamson, Nathan (20 November 2024). "Crossover trans-Tasman Final confirmed as 2025 Super Rugby Women's Draw announced". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024.
- ^ Meikle, Hayden (21 November 2024). "Transtasman final for women's teams". Otago Daily Times. Allied Press. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Lester, Ned (20 November 2024). "Super Rugby Aupiki and Super W champions set to square off in 2025". Rugbypass. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Super Rugby Aupiki final recap: Blues Women v Chiefs Manawa". Radio New Zealand. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024.
- ^ Pearson, Joseph (13 April 2024). "Recap: Blues stun Chiefs Manawa to win Super Rugby Aupiki final". Stuff. Stuff Ltd.
- ^ a b "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2025". superrugby.co.nz. 31 October 2024. Archived from the original on 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Chiefs, Māori All Black Dwayne Sweeney appointed head coach of Chiefs Manawa". chiefs.co.nz. 6 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Adam Thomson and Sona Taumalolo join Chiefs Manawa coaching team for 2025". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 5 December 2024. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024.
- ^ "Hurricanes Poua appoint new Head Coach for 2025". hurricanes.co.nz. 13 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Hurricanes Poua Announce Squad for 2025". hurricanes.co.nz. 30 October 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Leadership at Matatū". Matatū. 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Champions Final headlines 2025 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki draw announcement". superrugby.co.nz. 20 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2025". NZ Rugby. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Super Rugby Aupiki squads named for 2025". RNZ. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "HOMEGROWN TALENT HEADLINES 2025 nib BLUES SQUAD". Blues Rugby. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Stars return to Chiefs Manawa for 2025 campaign". Chiefs. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "2025 Squad Named". Matatū. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
